Cornerstone Films announced this week that multi-talented writer, director, and actor Paddy Considine has found his next filmmaking gig, the boxing drama “Journeyman.” Considine directed the excellent and underrated BAFTA-Award winning “Tyrannosaur,” and his second feature continues his collaboration with producing partner Diarmid Scrimshaw of Inflammable Films.
Currently in pre-production and shooting in early March, Considine wrote the screenplay, will direct it and will also star. Jodie Whittaker (“One Day”), Faraz Ayub (“Honor”), Tony Pitts (“War Horse”) and Paul Popplewell (“’71”) will form the main members of the supporting cast. Here’s the official synopsis:
Journeyman is a powerful and beautiful story about loss and, ultimately, triumph. It’s about our identity, and how in life we sometimes have to dig deep into our soul to discover who we really are.
Matty Burton is the middleweight boxing champion of the world. Now, coming towards the end of his career, he knows that he must make his money and get out of the game. His aim is to secure a home with his wife Emma, and a future for their baby daughter Mia. His opponent is the brash and controversial Nassar Ali. A big puncher that courts controversy with his outlandish statements. Nassar’s intent is to rip the title from Matty, a task that Nassar feels is going to be easy. After a titanic battle, Matty returns home to Emma, but moments later collapses on the living room floor from a delayed reaction to a devastating punch. When Matty awakes from the coma, the real fight begins. Suffering from memory loss and with his personality altered, Matty must begin to piece his life back together as his world disintegrates.
“Journeyman” is being financed by Film4, the BFI, Screen Yorkshire, and the Wellcome Trust. StudioCanal is on board to handle the U.K. release and Cornerstone Films will oversee international sales and distribution. Our bet is you’ll see it doing the rounds of the festival circuit in 2017.